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The search for sustainable alternative food sources has led to the expansion of aquaculture, with the proliferation of marine farms in more and more places, some of them very touristic. The installation of these farms in the waters of consolidated Sun and Beach tourist destinations represents a planning challenge, which requires consideration of the potential environmental and economic impacts of those activities on tourism attractions. This article critically analyzes the implementation of marine farms in the Costa Blanca (Alicante), one of the most consolidated Sun and Beach tourist destinations in the Mediterranean. The case study shows that the environmental impact studies and other documentation accompanying these projects do not include tourism aspects, which represents a deficiency that jeopardizes the economic and social sustainability of the projects. This work was supported by Excelencia para el profesorado universitario de la Universidad de Alcalá [grant number EPU-INV-UAH/2021/003].

Este estudio analiza cómo la evolución del índice del Foro Económico Mundial ha cambiado el panorama turístico internacional, abordando las principales razones por las que España ha perdido el liderazgo en competitividad turística conforme al Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI). Este es una actualización del Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), referente de medición de competitividad turística mundial, que ve modificada su metodología y composición, añadiendo la sostenibilidad como quinta y nueva dimensión. El análisis del desempeño del destino España en los distintos componentes del nuevo índice aporta información relevante para la construcción del futuro turístico español. Las necesidades actuales de los destinos, como la atención a los problemas de masificación o la volatilidad de la demanda, son aspectos que ahora computan para medir la competitividad. Este paso hacia la sostenibilidad acompaña a iniciativas de Naciones Unidas o del propio Gobierno de España, que han tratado de alinear el futuro del sector turístico a los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible. This study analyzes the main reasons why Spain has lost its leadership in tourism competitiveness according to the Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) of the World Economic Forum. This is an update of the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), a benchmark for measuring global tourism competitiveness, which has modified its methodology and composition, adding sustainability as a fifth and new dimension. The analysis of Spain’s performance in the different components of the new index provides relevant information for the construction of Spain’s tourism future. The current needs of destinations, such as attention to the problems of over tourism or the volatility of demand, are aspects that are now considered in measuring competitiveness. This step towards sustainability accompanies initiatives by the United Nations and the Spanish government itself, which have sought to align the future of the tourism sector with the Sustainable Development Goals.

The supply of water to towns is one of the fundamental services of any municipality in Spain, given the importance of the asset it is intended to manage, regardless of the form in which its provision is chosen. However, this is not always the case, and sometimes it is seen more as a source of extra funding for the municipality and a matter of political discussion on the convenience of one or another form of management: public or private. Currently in Spain, 45% is public management and 55% is totally or partially with private participation. In this paper we have analyzed, through their Annual Accounts (Accounts (Operating Accounts and Balance Sheet filed with the Mercantile Registry or data provided to the Ministry of Finance), the companies operating in the main Spanish cities, trying to determine the role played by private participation in the management of mixed companies to gain a better understanding of this important economic and social sector.

Obliquity describes the process of achieving complex objectives indirectly. The recent emergence of the concept and paradigm of intelligent or smart tourist destinations has given rise to a proliferation, often driven by publicly and privately financed technologically-based companies, of initiatives to convert many tourism destinations into smart tourism destinations (STDs). In theory, the concept of the smart tourist destination includes different levels of action in the environmental, social and technological fields, directed at enhancing the satisfaction and experience of tourists. However, in many practical applications of the concept only the latter level is addressed and the other dimensions are neglected. This article argues that the STDs represent the first real opportunity to make the concept of sustainable tourism operational. This argument is based on the fact that for the first time, the intensive use of technology involved in implementing an STD will enable the continuous measurement of aspects related to sustainability which, until now, in the absence of this technology, were difficult or impossible to measure, and therefore, manage., tourismos, Vol. 13 No. 1 (2018)

This paper aims at developing and applying an indicators system for smart tourism destinations in order to better understand the current situation of a set of destinations which are developing smart tourism policies. The indicators were developed by adapting existing indicators in tourism destination management and smart cities literature, creating a new system based on a smart destination theoretical model that establishes three interrelated levels in which smart destinations are grounded: strategic-relational, instrumental and applied levels. Within these levels, nine different dimensions to be measured were identified. The indicators were constructed in collaboration with a public organisation (INVAT.TUR) devoted to providing technical assistance to smart destinations and were pre-tested, readjusted and then applied to a set of destinations of the Region of Valencia (Spain). Obtained findings reveal an uneven performance of destinations in the different dimensions of the three levels. A notable performance is observed in indicators for connectivity and online marketing, while more efforts need to be done in accessibility and sustainability initiatives. However, disparities are evident between different indicators and destinations. These results are discussed and framed within the relevant literature on smart destinations while providing information for destination managers and policy makers to adapt and replicate these indicators in their own territories. This paper is a first attempt to develop and apply indicators to measure smart destinations progress in literature and therefore constitutes an important precedent for future studies. Sitio web de la revista (Consulta: 01-07-2021)

The literature on the competitiveness of tourist destinations establishes as its ultimate objective the well-being of the resident population. In Spain, the principal tourism product (sun and beach) has given rise to two basic types of destinations - those where there is a clear predominance of registered accommodation (mainly hotels) and those that are characterised by a supply largely made up of rental apartments and housing (non-registered, or sometimes known as the residential or second home model). The debate on the issue has been focusing on the different economic, social, cultural or environmental impacts that the two tourism models have on the territory. This article explores the economic aspect of the debate, comparing the differences existing in terms of income and employment in a pool of coastal destinations in the Region of Valencia, one of the leading tourism regions of the sun and beach tourism product in Spain and Europe. This comparison is done by way of Null Hypothesis Significance Testing and regression analysis. The results obtained indicate the neutrality of the composition of the accommodation supply on income and employment of destinations.

The tourism industry is undergoing accelerated changes that pose significant challenges for both destination and business managers as well as for researchers of the tourism phenomenon. Two of these challenges that are particularly relevant are the emergence of the sharing economy and its influence on the degree of overtourism perceived in the tourist destinations. This paper addresses the subject through the use of machine learning techniques. The findings show that machine learning techniques are especially well-suited tools for dealing with these kinds of tourism issues. The findings also show that for the Spanish case, tourism competitiveness is a key predictor of overtourism.

Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the problem of tourist destination saturation or overtourism was a hot research topic among tourism researchers. The debate was focused on the definition and measurement of the phenomenon and on establishing the conceptual models that explain it. The objective of this note is to propose the use of Newton's Second Motion Law to model the growth of destinations and its derivation in potential issues of overtourism. This theory allows to incorporate more adequately relevant concepts in this context such as resistance to growth than other standard theories in the existing literature.

En este proyecto se analiza el impacto económico del sector de la inteligencia artificial en la Comunidad Valenciana. Para ello se analizan los diferentes tipos de sub-sectores en los que puede dividirse esta tecnología. Se observa un déficit notable en las tipologías que más valor añadido representan, y se apuntan soluciones y propuestas de mejora para la Generalitat Valenciana. Generalitat Valenciana, Conselleria de Innovación, Universidades, Ciencia y Sociedad Digital, Dirección General para el Avance de la Sociedad Digital

Los estudios de impacto económico se han venido basando tradicionalmente en metodologías clásicas como el análisis input‑output o diferentes tipologías de multiplicadores. La irrupción de las nuevas tecnologías y la posibilidad de captación y explotación de grandes volúmenes de datos (big data) brinda nuevas posibilidades para el análisis de estos eventos. Este artículo presenta una aplicación pionera de estas metodologías, reestimando el impacto económico generado por dos fiestas populares de un destino turístico consolidado, Calp (Alicante), a través de metadatos provenientes de la telefonía móvil. Los resultados revelan que mediante estas técnicas innovadoras se afinan los impactos evitando los riesgos de sobreestimación asociados a las técnicas clásicas de análisis económico. Economic impact studies have traditionally been based on classical methodologies such as input‑output analysis or multipliers. The emergence of new technologies and the possibility of capturing and exploitation of big data offers new possibilities for the analysis of these events. This article presents a pioneering application of these methodologies to two popular festivals of a consolidated tourist destination, Calp (Alicante), using metadata obtained from mobile phone devices. The results reveal that through these innovative techniques the impacts are refined avoiding the risks of overestimation associated with the classical techniques.

This work tries to contribute to closing the existing gap in the relationship between sustainability and smartness, patent both in the field of research and in the management of cities and tourist destinations. The points in common between the concepts of sustainability and smartness applied to the management of tourist destinations are analyzed, as well as the critical factors that hinder its practical application, as a starting point to move towards a synergistic model for sustainable tourism destinations, called Smart Sustainability. This proposal is based on a true governance of the destination and is aimed at taking advantage of the opportunities offered by information and communication technologies (ICTs) for a more efficient and sustainable management. Este trabajo trata de contribuir a cerrar la brecha existente en la relación entre sostenibilidad e inteligencia, patente tanto en el ámbito de la investigación como en el de la gestión de ciudades y destinos turísticos. Se analizan los puntos en común entre los conceptos de sostenibilidad e inteligencia aplicados a la gestión de los destinos turísticos, así como los factores críticos que dificultan su aplicación práctica, como punto de partida para avanzar hacia un modelo sinérgico para los destinos turísticos sostenibles e inteligentes, denominado Smart Sustainability. Esta propuesta está basada en una verdadera gobernanza del destino y está orientada a aprovechar las oportunidades que ofrecen las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (ICTs) para una gestión más eficiente y sostenible. This research has been carried out within the framework of the research Project: Analysis of planning processes applied to smart cities and tourist destinations. Balance and proposal of a new methodology: Smart Tourism Planning (CSO2017-82592-R) under the Spanish National R&D&I Plan financed by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (2018-2020).

Obliquity describes the process of achieving complex objectives indirectly. The recent emergence of the concept and paradigm of intelligent or smart tourist destinations has given rise to a proliferation of initiatives to convert many tourism destinations into smart tourism destinations. Such initiatives are often driven by publicly and privately financed technologically-based companies, In theory, the concept of the smart tourist destination includes different levels of action in the environmental, social and technological fields, directed at enhancing the satisfaction and experience of tourists. However, in many practical applications of the concept, only the latter level is addressed, and the other dimensions are neglected. This article argues that smart tourism destinations represent the first real opportunity to make the concept of sustainable tourism operational. This argument is based on the fact that, for the first time, the intensive use of technology involved in implementing a smart tourism destination will enable the continuous measurement of aspects related to sustainability which, until now, in the absence of this technology, were difficult or impossible to measure, and therefore, manage.

This work tries to contribute to closing the existing gap in the relationship between sustainability and smartness, patent both in the field of research and in the management of cities and tourist destinations. The points in common between the concepts of sustainability and smartness applied to the management of tourist destinations are analyzed, as well as the critical factors that hinder its practical application, as a starting point to move towards a synergistic model for sustainable tourism destinations, called Smart Sustainability. This proposal is based on a true governance of the destination and is aimed at taking advantage of the opportunities offered by information and communication technologies (ICTs) for a more efficient and sustainable management., Este trabajo trata de contribuir a cerrar la brecha existente en la relación entre sostenibilidad e inteligencia, patente tanto en el ámbito de la investigación como en el de la gestión de ciudades y destinos turísticos. Se analizan los puntos en común entre los conceptos de sostenibilidad e inteligencia aplicados a la gestión de los destinos turísticos, así como los factores críticos que dificultan su aplicación práctica, como punto de partida para avanzar hacia un modelo sinérgico para los destinos turísticos sostenibles e inteligentes, denominado "Smart Sustainability". Esta propuesta está basada en una verdadera gobernanza del destino y está orientada a aprovechar las oportunidades que ofrecen las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (ICTs) para una gestión más eficiente y sostenible.

Desde hace algunas décadas el sector turístico experimenta una transformación imparable hacia la digitalización. Los destinos turísticos inteligentes (DTI) suponen quizá el reto más importante a enfrentar en los próximos años: integrar los sectores y posibilidades tecnológicas de vanguardia (big data, nanotecnología, sensorización…) en los hábitos de los consumidores para generar la mejor experiencia posible y claramente diferenciada de los rivales. Este artículo analiza el desarrollo de los DTI y bajo qué principios deben actuar las empresas turísticas para consolidar a España como un líder turístico también del Siglo XXI. For some decades, the tourism industry has been experiencing an unstoppable transformation towards digitalisation. Smart tourism destinations (STD) could be the most important challenge to address in forthcoming years: integrating cutting-edge sectors and technology opportunities (big data, nanotechnology, sensorization…) into the habits of consumers to create the best-possible experience, clearly differentiated from that of rivals. This article analyses the development of STDs and the principles that should underlie tourism businesses to consolidate Spain as a tourism leader in the 21st century as well. Este trabajo se enmarca en el Proyecto de Investigación «Nuevos enfoques para la planificación y gestión del territorio turístico: conceptualización, análisis de experiencias y problemas. Definición de modelos operativos para destinos turísticos inteligentes». Proyecto CSO2014-59193-R del Programa Estatal de I+D+i del Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad.

El sector turístico español ha jugado un papel clave como motor de crecimiento económico y catalizador de la recuperación de la economía nacional, resultando estratégico en una economía de servicios como la española. En este sentido, el papel del sector público se ha traducido en programas de apoyo a las empresas turísticas, a los destinos y a los emprendedores. Por tanto, es necesario seguir avanzando en la introducción de mecanismos de respaldo al turismo para mantener y reforzar la posición de liderazgo internacional. La mayoría de los indicadores estadísticos sobre turismo: llegadas internacionales de turistas y gasto asociado, comportamiento del turismo nacional y pernoctaciones hoteleras confirman que durante el año 2016 se mantiene la fortaleza del sector turístico español, consolidándose como un sector en alza en la economía española, con repercusiones positivas sobre el empleo. El turismo, continuará según las previsiones batiendo record en los flujos turísticos recibidos y en el gasto. Sin embargo, el sector se enfrenta aún a algunos retos, entre los que cabe resaltar: la gestión y regulación del turismo colaborativo o P2P, la sostenibilidad del modelo turístico, la diferenciación de la oferta turística española respecto a competidores directos, adaptando dicha oferta a las nuevas necesidades de los turistas; es decir, apostar por propuestas de valor añadido soportadas en la innovación y el conocimiento, claves para mantener el liderazgo competitivo ya alcanzado por el sector turístico español.